Political stability in authoritarian regimes: the case of Central Asia

Nanovsky S. Knox C.
2025 Routledge

Central Asian Survey
2025 #44 Issue 3 346 - 369 pp.

Existing research indicates that political stability is a prerequisite for good governance and economic development in Central Asia. All five countries in the region are authoritarian regimes but it is unclear which factors impact on political stability. Using data for the period 2002–2022, this paper examines the variables which make a significant contribution to political stability and finds that the rule of law, personalist rule, a free media, freedom of assembly, political polarization and gross domestic product (GDP) growth, respectively have a positive effect on political stability while government accountability, exclusions by social group and civil society participation have a negative effect. Some of the findings are at odds with other studies on autocratic regimes, illustrating the importance of geo-political context.

authoritarianism , Central Asia , civil society , corruption , free media , Political stability

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Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan

Graduate School of Public Policy

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